Category: Uncategorized

For the last couple years Kierran has been fond of girls. You might recall him asking me to bring a girl he saw at the park over to him so he could pet her. That was last summer. Scott messaged me the other day their conversation.At library time yesterday an aquintence of mine recently had a baby girl and was at the library with her children. I showed Kierran the baby with her full head of hair and newborn wrinkles and jokingly asked if he wanted to buy this baby. He shrugged and played it off like I was being silly but when we got in the car he says, “MOM!! I really wanted that baby!”

Growing up and living in Fairbanks I expected moose to be around. After 30+ years it never got old seeing them. If possible I’d pull over to take some pictures or just watch them from the living room windows. I always respected the moose and never followed or crowded them. They can be dangerous if provoked but I never felt scared really. Here in Valdez there aren’t moose, they have bears and that scares me.

When I lived here for 4 years, 11 years ago, I never saw one bear and I was fine with that. Having been back now for almost 2 months I’ve seen 5 bears. The first one was running along the tree line and I said “Look at the doooo…that’s a bear!!” Next time a mom and baby ran across the road one vehicle in front of me and the last time Scott and I were headed home from dropping off the boys at school and these two biggies were hanging out by the side of the road.

A lot like the moose in Fairbanks, seeing these creatures won’t get old. I’m just scared! These are bears!!

Our first week in Valdez and we made it just in time for the Gold Rush Days parade. The boys got to ride in the police car with Scott, tossing out candy while I managed the shaved ice hut. Somehow even being in the parade they managed to collect three grocery sacks of candy. WTH! I think the local dentist was trying to drum up business. My kids were CRACKED OUT!

It didn’t take long before the “No more candy” rule came into effect. It didn’t take much longer for the youngest to break the rule and lose his bag of candy. He tried the ole, “but dad said no more candy at the parade, not when we got home.” Nice try. One bag in the trash.

Four days later the same child was caught stealing candy so the second bag went in the trash but not before I ate the milk duds. Let’s not be too crazy here. I shouldn’t suffer for their actions.

Six days later I happen to walk into the currently vacant bedroom to find the same five year old looking guilty. “What are you doing?”“Nothing” he wipes his mouth. “Come here.” He walks away. Ohhhhh dude. BIG mistake!“Let me smell your breath.” He continues to circle the room opposite of me. “Stop now!” I demanded in my threatening mom voice. He stands still and I approach him. “Let me smell your breath.” He slowly parts his lips. I can smell the rainbow. Pure skittle mouth. Kierran word vomits. “It’s Merrick’s! Merrick hid the candy! It’s his not mine!”“Ok, where is it?”“Right here.” He opens the dress up bin and pulls out candy and wrappers. I directed him to throw it all in the trash. We walk downstairs and I inform the children I found their stash. Merrick is clueless, “What stash? A stash of what?” Barrett knows immediately, “It’s mine mom. The candy was mine. I put it there.”(OMG I’M SO PROUD!!) Snap out of it Melissa! He’s being naughty!!“Ok, there will be NO sweets of any kind for the rest of the month. For any of you. No dessert, no donuts, no gum!” There were no complaints at all. Even when I told them that went for the trip to the state fair in a couple weeks.

I’ve often threatened a sugar detox but never gone through with it. Here we go! I’ll keep you posted. This could get UGLY!

*UPDATE- The relentless asking got old quick but the kids settled into a no dessert mode. I caught one with gum once but there were no complaints when I held my hand out to collect it. Over all it wasn’t too bad.

Merrick is laying down on the couch and asks me, "Mom, can your body dissolve things?" "Hmmm, no. Well, I guess it can dissolve splinters so kind of. Why?"With a tinge of panic in his voice he asked "Can your body dissolve your balls?"I look up to the ceiling, close my eyes, exhale then look at him with his hands down his pajama pants and tell him to stand up."Oh! There they are. That was scary."

I found some of my powder makeup in Kieran’s drawer today. I asked him what that was about and he said he needs it for his cheeks in the morning because the makeup comes off at night. He picked up the face powder, opened the container and began smearing it on his cheeks. It’s flesh color so you really can’t see it. Good grief. There’s worse things right?

Like the other day Kierran wasn’t feeling well. His stomach was sour. All he ate was an applesauce cup and drank two small glasses of water. The next morning he awoke and was starving. He ate pancakes and bacon and begged for a Gatorade. I was hesitant but he did only have two small glasses of water the previous day. He must be dehydrated from the day before so I let him have the small bottle of red Gatorade.

Stupid.

10 minutes later all of it came up on my couch and carpet. Red, chunky, projectile vomit. UGH! I moved him to the bathroom in front of the toilet and directed him to stay. Right then a person renting our chicken plucker pulled into the driveway. I think I failed to mention Scott wasn’t home AGAIN! I handled the plucker business and came back inside to find the dog eating the puke. WHAT THE HECK! (I really didn’t think the word heck) I peeled Linus away, trapped him upstairs and ran to the bathroom to find Kierran in the same spot which surprised me. He REALLY must not be feeling well because that has to be the longest he’s ever followed directions. In the tub he goes. Cleaning here I come.

After everything and everyone was cleaned up I started packing up the living room. Kierran lay in a box near me looking pathetic.

Cute but pathetic. He started dozing in and out of sleep. Poor boy. I thought he would have woken with a start when his brothers yelled from up stairs. “MOM!!! MOM!!! ALASKA STATE TROOPERS IS ON NETFLIX!” But Kierran lay there, in the box motionless. The boys LOVE Alaska State Troopers. That will keep them happy and out of my hair for a few days. Thank you Netflix. Moments later they yell from upstairs again, ” MOM! MOM! We saw Mr. Piscoya!!!” He’s a friend of ours and a Lt. at the AST. Kierran remains motionless but manages to mutter in the most self pity filled, on the verge of tears voice, “Their dreams are coming true…but mine aren’t…because I’m sick.”

I burst out laughing. Kierran did not find it comical. I couldn’t text Scott the story fast enough. Who needs girls when you have this drama coming from boys!

A part of moving is decluttering. Part of decluttering is hosting a garage sale! I enjoy garage sales. They can be slightly overwhelming but worth it when you get cash for clutter. I can recall my mom having lots of sales growing up maybe that’s where I get my affection for them from.

When I decided to have a sale I did a little pineresting and found some good ideas about how much change to have on hand, how to organize your items, and sign ideas. I dedicated about 2 hours one evening to signs. I love drawing and this was a great opportunity to get the kids in bed and have some fun me time.

90% of the people who came to my garage sale commented on the marketing.

I had to stop by and meet the person who made those signs!

I don’t need anything but I knew whoever made those signs was cool! (He ended up buying some things)

Your signs are the best!

The variety of popular pop culture icons brought in a very diverse crowd. Not just the typical garage sale shoppers. It also attracted a couple critics. My sister posted on a couple local FB sale sites and one person commented with an angry emoji. Huh?? (Side note- this is an example of why I’m happy to no longer be on FB) When questioned by another random person the poster responded that “We are all tired of her. It’s as bad as YOLO” Uhhh who is we? You speak for the masses of garage sale sign haters? Well we didn’t respond because my address was posted and there are some crazies out there. True to crazy, that guy must have sent out a bat call and one of his cronies tore my sign down 😕 My feelers were slightly hurt. I spent time on that and good grief it’s a sign! Ultimately I dismissed it and decided I’m grateful to be off FB and grateful my life isn’t so out of control I get spun up about garage sale signs.

Fun weekend overall hanging out with my sister, making a few bucks and getting rid of some clutter. The hard part is now dividing the remaining items into donate, Craigslist and dump piles then actually getting these piles out of the house and not back into the crawl space.

Best part of the weekend goes to the full price offer we got on the house!!!